Sunday 6th March 2022 – Hartington – Derbyshire Dales.

Walk summary – The coach set off from Waterdale just gone 8am. There was a short stop at Baslow before continuing our journey to the small Derbyshire Dales village of Biggin where our circular walk started. We were soon walking through Biggin Dale national nature reserve, the first of three spectacular scree covered limestone gorges in the Dove valley. Usually a dry dale, recent heavy rainfall had pushed spring water up on to the footpaths in some places and care was needed to keep our socks dry. We had a hillside coffee stop and then walked through Wolvescote Dale along a footpath beside the fast-flowing River Dove.

The third gorge was the thickly wooded Beresford Dale. While keeping to the riverside path a footbridge took us across the Dove and county boundary into Staffordshire for a short distance before crossing the river at a second bridge back into Derbyshire. On arrival into Hartington it was time for a pub stop at the Devonshire Arms where Timothy Taylor’s Landlord ale was on hand-pull. Packed lunch was enjoyed at an outdoor table here. The last leg of today’s walk took us through open countryside with characteristic dry stone walls and green rolling hills before arriving back at the coach waiting for us at Biggin. It was still daylight at 6pm on arrival in Doncaster.

  • Start and finish point – SK155 588. A circular walk.
  • Walk leader – David Wildsmith.
  • Number of walkers – 36 (and no non-walkers)..
  • Distance – 8 miles / 12.5 kilometres.
  • Terrain – Mainly valley bottom paths, with some lose scree and floodwater in places.
  • Highest point – 1000 feet / 300m.
  • Weather – Started with a chilly wind. Dry and sunny, warming up to around 8 degrees C.

Club news – In the absence of Jean Torrington, Jan Wildsmith welcomed Hilary, Angela and Lynne on their first Weekend Wanderers walk. The June walk to Bamford Edge planned for 5th has been moved to 12th June due to national Jubilee events.

Credits – Dave and Jan Wildsmith were thanked for today’s spetacular walk. Thanks go to Vivienne Dales and Dave Wildsmith who took photos used in this blog, with a few from me, Dave Carroll.

Author’s memo – I was impressed with the beautiful gorges seen today and am thinking of returning in late spring to try and follow the same route. A grey wagtail was catching insects on the river.